Downtown parks Can drive Redevelopment
City of Lawrenceville Goal since 2006
There is a saying that private dollars follow public dollars. Great small cities have great downtown parks! Downtown parks attraact economic development, increase the desirability of living downtown, and enhance environmental sustainability.
The City has re-engaged Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates to design Lawrenceville's City Park. The design includes the area from Luckie Street and expands along Clayton and Jackson Streets. The initial plan is to have a place for entertainment, walking trails, and public gatherings. $2.5 million dollars of SPLOST funds have been appropriated for the initial stages of development.
A City Park:
Centerpiece for Downtown Lawrenceville
In 2005, the DDA, working with Tunnel, Spangler and Walsh, developed a master plan for the downtown area. Part of the plan included a civic plaza, or park, located where the city's utility sheds and the old city hall is now. Not much progress was made in the years that followed, however, the park is being discussed again and it appears that progress is being made on the further planning of this park. As a centerpiece of our downtown, this park is vital to the overall health of our city and our citizens well being.
Community Satisfaction
Parks and green spaces always rank in the top three important factors in rating a place as a great place to live. People rank parks higher than roads and city services when surveyed about their happiness with their community. Parks offer a communal place to gather and are a center of community pride. Green areas in a city gives a positive perception of the city, which will draw people (residents and customers) to the area.
Perception
A lack of green spaces and trees contributes to a city's perception of being "poor" or less advantaged. (In Chicago , Mayor Daley invested in community parks and street trees in his redevelopment program.) It will attract residents who want to put down roots and call Lawrenceville home (as opposed to a transient population who has nothing vested in the city). We need to make the city nicer for people who are seeking to maintain a nice lifestyle. If there is no draw for a city, people will "vote with their feet" and move or shop elsewhere.
Economic Vitality
People are drawn to and will pay more for that which is aesthetically pleasing. Property values increase when there is a park close by residential areas or if there is an abundance of community parks. Property values of homes within close proximity of a park commanded 20% more in selling price than homes not near a park. Home buyers are willing to pay to be near green space.
Parks and plazas should reinforce retail and residential areas by creating places suitable for gatherings or public events. A park would draw customers to our downtown, which in turn would support the downtown shops and improve the economic base. Successful small businesses can offer job opportunities for the college students who will be attending school at our new college.
Revitalization
Downtown parks give people a reason to come downtown and linger. For those who live downtown, the park will be a fundamental amenity to complement their in-town lifestyle. As towns compete with one another to attract residents and create a successful commercial core, the presence of good parks, squares and other public spaces become a vital marketing tool.
Due to the fact that Gwinnett County owns and manages our historic courthouse, we need an open space to gather and hold events and music programs without the County's time and cost limitations. Events can be held at the city's park either weekly or monthly without any restrictions from the County.
Environmental Benefits
An abundance of green spaces, whether parks or trails, filters water as it recharges the groundwater supplies and protects immediate areas from flooding without the expense of a localized storm water management program. Trees act as a natural air purifier, removing smoke, dust and other pollutants in the air we breathe. Trees and green spaces cool the air by counteracting the warming effects of the nearby paved surfaces. One tree can remove 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, equaling 11,000 miles of car emissions. One study has shown that one acre of trees has the ability to remove 13 tons of particles and gases annually.
This park would be located across the street from the Isaac Adair house (built in 1827) and the Female Seminary (current building built in 1855) block and will be a complement to these historic structures. Lawrenceville is the second oldest city in the metro Atlanta area. To maintain our preeminence and uniqueness, there must be a greater investment in our public spaces. Building this park is an excellent place to start!
Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY
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